French Conversation · Level 63
76 words
French word
supplier
Pronunciation
IPA/syplije/
Meaning
- verbbeg
Example
Je supplie mon frère de ne pas partir.
I beg my brother not to leave.
More examples
Il supplie sa mère de le laisser sortir.
He begs his mother to let him go out.
Core concept
An urgent appeal reaches toward a reluctant listener, asking for mercy or a needed action.
Common phrases
supplier quelqu'un de
beg someone to ___
supplier à genoux
beg on one's knees
Similar words
demander: Request that someone do something without special urgency.
prier: Appeal politely to someone to do something.
Definition in French
Demander avec insistance et humilité à quelqu'un de faire ou d'accorder quelque chose, souvent en exprimant une détresse ou une grande urgence.
Word origin
The Latin verb supplicare referred to humble pleading before a superior and passed into French as supplier through Old French.
Usage tips
- Supplier is a false friend of English supply; it means to implore or beg, whereas fournir means to supply.